About Last Night Review: Perfect Valentine’s Day Gift!

About Last Night is the second movie in two weeks that has totally caught us by surprise. Last week, as we stated in our The LEGO Movie review, that movie had no right being as utterly fantastic as it is. The same could be said for About Last Night this week. It is hysterical, poignant, well acted, well written and overall... it is the perfect Valentine’s Day present for this day of love and beyond.

Sure, it’s a “remake” of the 1986 film starring Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Jim Belushi and Elizabeth Perkins. But the two films truly share only two things in common: The name and the fact that each is based on the David Mamet play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Where the first film took place in the Windy City, director Steve Pink brings the action to the City of Angels, Los Angeles.

The “main” couple in the About Last Night2014 movie version finds Danny (Michael Ealy) and Debbie (Joy Bryant) navigating the complexity that is the modern relationship. The “supporting” couple is Bernie (Kevin Hart, who gave us so many terrific recent Ride Along quotes) and Joan (Regina Hall).

The film begins with Bernie telling Danny About Last Night. He met and hooked up with Joan. The film quickly intercuts between Danny telling the story, along with a slightly similar take told by Joan to Debbie. The two lovers decide to see each other again, and bring along their friends for a blind date. They all hit it off and it seems everything is roses. Well, it is for Danny and Debbie. Joan and Bernie bicker. And what seems like stress on the two of them -- is an explosion of hilarity for the audience.

In the hands of Hart and Hall, the two steal the entire movie. Maybe steal is too strong of a word because all four performers are impeccable. But, there is something about Hart and Hall’s chemistry that is explosive. Whether they are passionately in love or passionately fighting, the two produce numerous laugh-out-loud moments that take what could be an above average remake and send it into a stratosphere of romantic comedy heaven.

Movie Fanatic wants to see Hart and Hall join forces again… and again and again.

Ealy and Bryant aren’t slackers either. It is their relationship that is truly the spine of the movie. Their problems and passion are real and grounded, and in the hands of the two actors, it is sensationally sublime to witness. See, this is a quartet of performers that have perfected the art of the romantic comedy and frankly, have elevated it to a whole new level.

Our About Last Night review can report that of the three romantic movies that land in theaters this rare Valentine’s Day Friday, this is the one that we can recommend to every single soul to see. In fact, whether in a couple or single… About Last Night is simply a great movie. Period.